Lynchburg City Schools received about $9 million in Virginia School Construction Assistance Program grants for three projects, according to a September 11, 2026 report by Cardinal News. The award is for school construction projects—not a confirmed $9 million HVAC-only grant. The report does not name the three projects or show how the money is divided among them.
What is confirmed about Lynchburg’s award?
The reported total is approximately $9 million for three Lynchburg City Schools projects. The award report does not identify the schools or project scopes, so it does not establish which work is HVAC-related or how much of the total will go toward mechanical upgrades.
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The division’s August 11 construction update described a broader set of planned capital work: architectural and mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) improvements at five elementary and two middle schools, a roof replacement at Sandusky Elementary, and a gym addition at Heritage Elementary. That planning list is not confirmation that any particular item received the latest grant.
At a joint school board and city council meeting, council member Chris Faraldi described the value of this less-visible work: “This is the kind of stuff that isn’t flashy, it’s not the most fun. But man, it makes a huge impact.”
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Which schools are getting HVAC upgrades?
The available award announcement does not provide a school-by-school list of the three funded projects. Lynchburg’s broader construction plans include MEP work, but those plans cannot establish which projects are covered by this grant.
A draft FY2026–2030 capital improvement plan lists a proposed $6.5 million HVAC project at William Marvin Bass Elementary in FY2026, assuming 30% grant funding and dependent on SCAP. It is a draft proposal, not proof that Bass Elementary is among the three projects in the latest award. The draft also outlines later proposed HVAC, electrical, and plumbing work at other schools; those schedules and assumptions should not be treated as final awards.
The draft says the multi-year program responds to needs identified in a 2022 facilities assessment. Its proposed Bass project and funding assumption are described in the Lynchburg City Schools draft FY2026–2030 Capital Improvement Plan.
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How Virginia’s School Construction Assistance Program works
The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) describes SCAP as competitive funding for construction, expansion, and modernization of public school buildings. Under the FY26 guidance, awards provide 10%, 20%, or 30% of approved project costs, depending on program criteria and locality factors. A grant therefore contributes toward eligible costs; it does not necessarily pay for the full project.
For FY26, VDOE guidance sets a $500,000 minimum cost for an individual project and a $1 million minimum for similar capital work at multiple schools. Eligible multi-school work can include HVAC replacement. Applications for the FY26 award phase were due July 27, 2026. Details are in the VDOE School Construction Assistance Program guidance.
How Lynchburg’s award fits the statewide round
The Virginia Board of Education approved a statewide round covering 34 projects. Cardinal News reported that the round provides more than $132 million to 22 divisions; 53 applications from 35 divisions were submitted. The projects were scored against 11 criteria, and eligible awards could cover 10%, 20%, or 30% of approved costs.
The same report said more than $750 million in SCAP grant funding had been awarded since 2023. Those statewide totals provide context for Lynchburg’s award, but they do not reveal the local projects or their individual grant amounts.
What the award does—and does not—tell residents
- Confirmed: Lynchburg City Schools received about $9 million in SCAP grants for three projects, as reported by Cardinal News on September 11, 2026.
- Not established: The names of the three projects, their individual award amounts, and whether all or any of the $9 million is specifically for HVAC work.
- Separate planning information: The August construction update and draft capital plan describe broader or proposed work; neither identifies the latest funded projects.
The City of Lynchburg’s adopted FY2026 budget includes a school-grants entry for SCAP, but that budget item is distinct from the later construction award announcement and does not identify the three projects.
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